POPPY CABS: Edinburgh taxi drivers raise £1,345 through sale of Remembrance Poppy Badges

Taxi drivers in Edinburgh raised £1,345 through the sale of Remembrance Poppy Badges despite the city being heavily restricted due to coronavirus.

Last year the Edinburgh taxi trade organised Edinburgh Poppy Cabs. The initiative saw licensed taxi drivers generously providing free transport to veterans attending Remembrance Day services.

However due to the restrictions set in place to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, many people were unable to attend normal Remembrance Day services.

Instead, Don Pujdak, a taxi driver and volunteer for Poppy Cabs in Edinburgh, set out a new plan selling Remembrance Poppy Badges.

The pin badges, featuring an iconic black taxi and red poppy, raised £1,345 which will be donated to the Scottish War Blinded Museum and the Royal British Legion.

The badges were sold on taxi ranks or collected from the Signature Barbershop on South Clark Street in Edinburgh.

Pujdak said: “The response from the trade was amazing. At the beginning I was aiming to sell 100 badges, although 95% of them had been reserved within less than 24 hours.

“I would like to say a big thank you to Edinburgh’s and Glasgow’s taxi drivers for their continuous support and their contributions. I am also incredibly grateful to Robert McCulloch and Mike Hughes for their amazing support and guidance.

“All the money raised will go to Scottish War Blinded Museum in Linburn and to Royal British Legion.

“Deep inside in my heart I wish that as Black Cab drivers we could help our heroes and veterans because we know that thanks to them we are living in free world.

“However, I understand that we are living in extraordinary times and it is very important to follow the Government guidance.

“I know deep in my heart that next year we will come back stronger. This is year of many challenges and only united we are able to tackle this horrible virus.”